Newcastle United hero Shola Ameobi says the club must fight to keep hold of manager Rafa Benitez.

Ameobi, who played 397 times in all for Newcastle, believes the club would be mad to let the former Liverpool boss go.

“He has got that aura about him which you need at Newcastle United," he told The Chronicle.

“It's such a storied club with fans that understand the game too. Rafa knows that, and what the club is all about – that is why the fans have taken to him so much.

“He is such a great manager and like I say it will be such a shame if we don't keep him because he is the key.

“The manager is the key to [the] success of any team but when you have a manager like him you don't want to be letting him go. It is imperative for us to do all we can to keep him."